If your cat gets stuck in a tree, calling the fire department may be your first instinct. But those types of calls are rarely handled by firefighters. That’s where Canopy Cat Rescue, a Washington-based organization, steps in.
Founded in 2009 by Shaun Sears and his rescue partner Tom, the organization specializes in helping cats stranded in trees, on rooftops, and in other hard-to-reach places.
“We kind of had this drive to help people and cats from very early on,” Sears said. “We were a small tree service, but we didn’t do a lot of tree work. And so, when our tree service friends would get the call for a cat in a tree, they’d say, hey, try Tom or Shaun. They might be able to help you. And then fast forward a few more years; we decided to operate on donations.”
Since launching the cat rescue, Sears estimates the team has rescued more than 8,500 cats from trees and other elevated locations.
“We get called for every cat emergency you can imagine, but we tend to stick to trees and roofs,” Sears said. “We’ve done grain silos; we’ve done concrete pillars under I-5.”
KIRO 7 recently had the opportunity to watch one of those rescues firsthand in Shoreline.
A cat named Francis had been stranded about 50 feet up in a tree for about a day before the owner’s call for help brought Canopy Cat Rescue to the scene.
According to Sears, reaching the cat is only part of the challenge.
“Climbing the tree is only half of it, and then winning over a stressed-out kitty is the other half,” he said.
In Francis’ case, the rescue proved to be relatively straightforward because the tree was easy to climb and the cat was friendly.
“This is a pretty average rescue,” he said. “Most of the time, they’re pretty easy. Other times they are death-defyingly scary and stressful.”
Canopy Cat Rescue’s coverage area is extensive. Sears responds to calls from King County all the way up to the Canadian border, while Tom responds to calls from King County to northern Oregon. Two volunteers help cover Eastern Washington.
Even when the organization is unable to perform a rescue, Sears says they still offer guidance to worried pet owners.
“We get calls from all over the country, and we give people advice on who to call, how long to wait and what to do,” Sears said. “Even if we don’t end up doing the rescue, we give good advice.”
One tip he emphasized: don’t leave food at the base of the tree.
For cat owners facing a feline emergency high above the ground, Canopy Cat Rescue has become a go-to resource for both hands-on rescues and expert advice.